Tomorrow morning, you could walk into your business and find that one of your team members is facing a traumatic event. It could be a serious illness, a tragic accident or even the death of an immediate family member. It could involve divorce or a significant family problem. The event might be public, or it may be private. Whatever the circumstances, you know all too well that the incident will affect your employee deeply, along with their job performance. You can’t erase trauma from the lives of your team members, but, when confronted with it, you can address it positively and sensitively using the following steps.

Get the facts. Although you cannot control the problem, you can learn what did—and did not—happen. Make it a point to sit privately with the employee. Simply asking for a description of the unfortunate event or incident provides the opportunity for the person to share whatever is on their mind. More importantly, it sets the stage for identifying what should be done next.

Put the employee in control. Facing a crisis or tragedy leaves most people feeling helpless and powerless. Although the emotions of the event may linger long after it is over, you can help restore a small measure of control to the team member’s life by informing them of your support. If appropriate, inquire about how you can help. Empathy, not sympathy, makes the difference. The key to this is engaging in genuinely nondirective conversation—comments that reinforce the feelings and thoughts of your distressed employee. Your instinct may be to offer a sympathetic response, such as “I want you to know that I feel so badly for you.” A nondirective response is more effective, such as “I hear how upset you feel about the aftermath … .”

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